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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| French foreign minister in Iraq | French foreign minister in Iraq |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has arrived in the Iraqi capital Baghdad for a visit at the invitation of the country's president. | French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has arrived in the Iraqi capital Baghdad for a visit at the invitation of the country's president. |
| The trip marks the first time a French minister has been to Iraq since it opposed the US-led invasion in 2003. | |
| The election in May of Nicolas Sarkozy as French president brought an improvement in relations with the US. | |
| The French Foreign Ministry said Mr Kouchner was in the country to express a "message of solidarity". | The French Foreign Ministry said Mr Kouchner was in the country to express a "message of solidarity". |
| The ministry said in a statement: "At the invitation of Mr Jalal Talabani, president of Iraq, the foreign minister has just begun an official visit to Baghdad. | |
| "Bernard Kouchner is in Baghdad to express a French message of solidarity with the Iraqi people and to listen to the representatives of all communities." | "Bernard Kouchner is in Baghdad to express a French message of solidarity with the Iraqi people and to listen to the representatives of all communities." |
| 'Highly symbolic' | |
| The visit comes four years after the attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad which killed special representative Sergio Vieira de Mello, a personal friend of Mr Kouchner. | |
| The BBC's Mike Wooldridge, in Baghdad, says the visit is highly symbolic and shows Mr Sarkozy wanted to create a "clear divide" between himself and predecessor, Jacques Chirac. | |
| France has hosted several Iraqi leaders and has given its support to the process of political transition. | |
| Mr Sarkozy - who recently had informal talks with US President George Bush - has already said that the US could count on his friendship. | Mr Sarkozy - who recently had informal talks with US President George Bush - has already said that the US could count on his friendship. |
| The talks took place at Mr Bush's family home in the US state of Maine and some observers remarked that it was impossible to imagine Mr Chirac being given a similar invitation. | |
| The two countries are also working together closely on issues involving Iran, Lebanon and Sudan. | |
| Mr Kouchner arrives days after a deadly attack in the country killed hundreds of people. |